Block-signal system for railways



(No Model.)

E. BLU-NT.

I BLOOK SIGNAL SYSTEM FOR RAILWAYS. No. 402.556. Patented May '7, 1889.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFI E.

EDMUND BLUNT, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

' V BLOCK-SIGNAL SYSTEM FOR RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 402,556, dated May '7, 1889.

Application filed May 22, 1888. Serial No. 274,736. No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDMUND BLUNT, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Block-Signal Systems for Railways, of which the following is a specification.

I will describe a block-signal system embodying my improvement in detail, and then point out the novel features in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view, in elevation, of two blocks on a railway and of two trains of cars, one Within each block, illustrating the mode of operation of a signal system embodying mydmprovement. Fig. 2 is a plan or top view of the same. Fig. 3is aview in said elevation and on an enlarged scale of a locomotive and a railway-car, together with a signal-operating device embodying my improvement. Fig. 4 is a rear view of a locomotive and of a signal-operating device embodying my improvement. Fig. 5 is a detail view showing a means for operating signals between different blocks and embodying my improvement. I

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

In carrying out my improvement I cause a, train of cars when entering a block to set a signal for danger, which signal when set will not be reset, or, in other words, returned to the position indicating safety, until the train which set the signal has passed out of the block. If, when the signal has been set for f danger, another train should enter the block behind the train which set the dan- .ger-signal the danger-signal will cause an comprise, in the example of my improvement shown, upright rods at. These upright rods have mounted upon them arms a? 0. These arms extend from the rods 0. at approximate right angles to the latter, and they are also arranged upon the rods at approximate right angles to each other. When one of the arms 01. a is struck, it operates to rotate the rod in such manner as to bring the arm which was struck into a position where it is substantially parallel with the railwaytrack and to bring the other of said arms into a position where it is at right angles to the railwaytrack.

Preferably the arms a a will be at differ-- ent elevations on the rodeo, and they may, if desired, be of different lengths. There is a connection between the rod (0 at one end of the block and that at the other end of the block. This connection in the example of my improvement shown consists of a wire or rod, 19. The wire or rod maybe passed through a suitable conduit at the side of the track, ex tending between any two signal-operating devices. If awire is used, it may be coiled about the lower ends of the rod a, or about a suitable pulley thereon, in such manner that when one of the rods a is rotated to shift the position of the arms a a the rod at the other end of the block, which is in connection with the one just operated, will be rotated in such manner as to bring the arms a a upon it into a converse position from the arms upon the other of the rods.

In Operating my system I arrange a projection or obstruction upon one of the cars of the train. I also provide a projection or obstruction upon the locomotive of the train.

IVhen a train enters the block, the projection or obstruction upon the car comes into contact with one of the arms a or upon the rod a, and rotates-the rod a into a position to indicate danger. If, when in that position, another train enters the block behind the one which set the signal, the projection or obstruction upon the locomotive of the incoming train will strike the arm on the signaling device indicating danger, and will cause an audible signal to be given to the engineer upon the locomotive.

The projection upon the car which contacts with the arm may be of any suitable kind; but I prefer that it should be in the nature of an inclined plane extending approximately throughout the length of the car. The projection upon the locomotive may be a crankarm-for instance, such as I have illustrated in Fig. 4. This crank-arm may be connected with a bell within the cab of the locomotive, so that the bell will be rung when the crankarm is operated.

When a train enters the block and sets the signal for danger, it at the same time sets the signal at the other end of the block for safety. When a train passes out of the block, one of the arms a a upon the signaling device at that end of the block is struck by the projection on the car and resets the signal at the other end of the block for safety and sets itself for danger.

, In Fig. 5 the .wire I) is shown as attached at one end to a rod, a, upon which it winds, and at its opposite end to a pivoted dog controlled bya spring, or its equivalent, normally en gaging a ratchet on the rear rod, so that when the arm of the forward rod is struck the wire operates to release the dog from the ratchet on the rear rod, and a weight .(shown plainly in Fig. 4) having a flexible connection leading over a bearing or pulley to the rod rotates said .rod to its normal or safety position.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A railway-signal comprising the rods extending upwardly at one side-of the track, signal-arms thereon, one above the other and at substantially right angles to each other and adapted to contact with obstructions on a passing train, a ratchet on each vertical rod, a pivotal spring-controlled dog engaging a ratchet on each vertical rod,a wire having one end coiled around a vertical rod and engaging at the other end with the dog of the adjacent rod, and weights having flexible connection with the rods, said connections leading over a pulley, substantially as specified.

2. A railway-signal system having, in combination, the rods extending upwardly at one side of the track, the signal devices thereon, comprising arms, one above the other, adapted to contact, respectively,with obstructions on a passing train, pivotal dogs on said rods, the wires each connecting a rod and a dog .on an adjacent rod, the ratchets on said rods, and devices for returning the signals to their normal positions, substantially as specified.

3. A railway-signal system comprising the vertical-rods placed at the side of the track, the projecting signal devices thereon adapted to contact with projections or vobstructions on a passing train, whereby the signal devices will be set in different positions and whereby an audible signal will be sounded on the 10- comotive, the wires connecting with a rod and a pivoted dog normally engaging a ratchet on a rod, and a weight having a flexible connection over a bearing with a rod, substantially as specified.

EDMUND BLU N T.

Witnesses:

ALDEN S. SWAN, W. H. LANGLEY. 

